The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-08

Portuguese deputaton of missionaries from
the Malabar side, by the light of modern
Christianity, searched the whole Coroman-
del coast, and 365 years ago they found the
apostles complete relic, safely inferred at
the greater mount, which is called by his
name.
This skeleton was lying side by side with
that of king whom he had converted. The
deputation, oyerjoyed, took the precious
dust to Goa, which is an interesting town
on the southwest coast of this peninsula.
Therein the sanctuary, which is called the
Church of st. Thomas, the crumbling bones
lie to thisday.
The poem does not mention the name or
country of the King for whom st. Thomas
built the heavenly palace, but legendary his
tory happily tells it.
A yellow and ant-eaten parchment almost
thousand years old, and copied from the
original one that was 500, years older, was
found and published by Wolfgang Lazius
355 years ago am particular about these
dates, and give them under the authority of
the present official siatistician of British In
over Europe or America that knows any
thing about India knows of w. w. Hunter.
C. S. |. G. L E., and LII. ID.
NV priestly informant gave me most of
the main events in outline, but he did not
mention many dates. He did not tell me
of the other ST. Thomas church in Goa
which has the body, but | have learned that
since from DIR. Hunter. The manuscript was
written by a chronicler named Abdias, who,
when he was Young, was disciple of st.
Thomas Abdias, when he wrote the his
tory, was living in Babylon-the celebrated
Babylon of ancient history He was a
Christian minister, and had charge of all the
churches III that part of Asia. His literary
work-ten volumes-was done in one of the
oriental tongues. But it was translated in
to Latin by the well-lnown Julius Afri-
canus. In the Latin, which is the only Ian
guage any of us would be likely to under
stand. it Is in part entitled ''Abdi@ Baby
Ionic" "libri decent; Julio Africano, inter
prete"
Julius Africanus translation was fortu-
nately found just ten years after the pre-
cious dust of the martyred apostle was dis
covered on the Coromandel coast where,
though lying side by side with his royal
friend, every circumstance existed for identi-
fcation; the martyred saint being greater
than the King.
This ancient manuscript tells us how st.
Thomas came to go to India and to pass his
old age in the quiet retirement of Madras.
II was only sudden attack of persecution
that terminated his life. He lived there very
pleasantly. This is the story of the manu-
script:
The fame OF Jesus had reached the Tar
East, which is land of magic, even to this
day. "Black magic" and white magic"
am often hearing Of, and am even told in
what provinces the "black magicians" arc
and on what mountain heights the 'white
magiciansh stay. Jesus was here supposed
| TO be a great magician; one of those magi
who could do or supply anything.
King Gondaphorus sent TO Jesus by mes
senger named Abban. Abban arrived just
before the final ascension. Gondaphorus sent
| for skillful architect TO build him palace.
! He thought that he would thereby have the
finest palace in India, this part of Asia being
then, and up to a very late date, divided in
! to several kingdoms, having rich kings who
lived very grandly. Jesus furnished him
with Thomas Didymus as an expert in archi-
lecture. The apostle converted Gonda-
! phorus, for the story goes that when
! 81 Thomas in dungeon dark was cnst1
Till tire time of his punishment dire waS passed,
| Then II Glanced or the good God WIG II Ko
y to -" fiN~'s own brother IN death IaK i@N.